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Reentry burn. SpaceX does not command the launch vehicle after it launches; it carries out a pre-programmed sequence of actions to deploy the payload into space and reenter the atmosphere to avoid creating a debris hazard. If the payload was still attached, the payload came down with it.

Reentry burn. SpaceX does not command the launch vehicle after it launches; it carries out a pre-programmed sequence of actions to deploy the payload into space and reenter the atmosphere to avoid creating a debris hazard. If the payload was still attached, the payload came down with it.

It's also worth noting that the re-entry burn was witnessed, and the post-burn fuel vent at least was photographed. So the second stage certainly looks to have worked properly. Whether the payload adapter or payload did is not public knowledge.

american defense contractors in staggering level of incompetence scenes nonshocker

This is a tricky case. Neither side can comment, and this thing's been as black as the blackest Cold War spy satellite programs. They've faked loss of mission before with this kind of super-secretive launch, so it's not possible to be 100% sure what's going on. The surest way to make sure classified information leaks to the public is to brief a Congressional Representative about it too - it may be exactly what it says on the tin, or it could be an active disinformation program. Both have precedent.

We have conducted a search for radio emission consistent with an artificial source targeting 1I/'Oumuamua with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) between 1.1 and 11.6 GHz. We searched the data for narrowband signals and found none. Given the close proximity to this interstellar object, we can place limits to putative transmitters with extremely low power (0.08 W).

We have conducted a search for radio emission consistent with an artificial source targeting 1I/'Oumuamua with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) between 1.1 and 11.6 GHz. We searched the data for narrowband signals and found none. Given the close proximity to this interstellar object, we can place limits to putative transmitters with extremely low power (0.08 W).

All of these kinds of observations have sensitivity limits. In this case, they have ruled out narrowband transmitters with greater than 80 milliwatts of broadcast power, which is the lowest signal strength they would be able to detect.

We have conducted a search for radio emission consistent with an artificial source targeting 1I/'Oumuamua with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) between 1.1 and 11.6 GHz. We searched the data for narrowband signals and found none. Given the close proximity to this interstellar object, we can place limits to putative transmitters with extremely low power (0.08 W).

So big ol' chunk of rock is just a rock? Colour me absolutely fucking shocked

So big ol' chunk of rock is just a rock? Colour me absolutely fucking shocked

Technically they've only ruled that it's not making any sort of visible RF broadcasts even at very low power in the range they explored. This is consistent with a derelict spacecraft, or a big ol' chunk of rock. It's probably just a rock.

"Based on the data available, our team did not identify any information that would change SpaceX's Falcon 9 certification status," Lieutenant General John Thompson, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, told Bloomberg News.

That is proper awesome! I too want to get body smacked by the sound of a rocket!
I am beyond jelly. I so want to go watch a launch, even this type of thing would do, but timing it is a pretty big gamble (not impossible).

Originally Posted by Tarminic

I would create a dragon made out of vaginas. Then I would create a dragon made out of dicks. Then I would have them fight to the death.

That is proper awesome! I too want to get body smacked by the sound of a rocket!
I am beyond jelly. I so want to go watch a launch, even this type of thing would do, but timing it is a pretty big gamble (not impossible).